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Unemployed and strapped for cash?
You're not alone!
By Kandice Crompton
January 22, 2009 | Within a month of my 16th birthday
I joined the ranks of employed Americans. The longest
I've been without a job since then is two weeks. I worked
30 hours a week while I was in high school. I worked
40 hours a week my freshman year of college. Yet, for
the last month I have been unemployed. No one will hire
me.
My last day of work was Christmas Eve. I had to quit
when I found out that the courses I was required to
take this semester were only offered during my working
hours. I started looking for a job immediately. I can't
count the number of jobs I have applied for, from telephone
call-centers, retail stores and cleaning centers. You
know it's a bad sign when you can't even get a job at
a call-center.
Several months ago, when I realized that with a new
semester I may be needing a new job, I talked to a friend
of mine, who, for the sake of his own job, we shall
call Fred. Fred is a supervisor at a business that employees
about 40 people. He is involved in hiring at this company
and thought he would be able to swing some things my
way. However, instead of helping me get a job, Fred
has had to lay off seven employees in the last five
weeks. According to him, his company may not even be
hiring for the summer.
Other friends have had similar problems. A friend
of mine employed at a restaurant has been affected by
the sudden drop in people eating out. She says that
not only have the numbers of customers dropped, but
the tips as well. Another has, like me, had to move
back in with her parents because of her inability to
find a job. While I do feel bad for these other people,
it makes me feel a bit better to know that I am not
alone.
I didn't think the weak economy would hurt me this
way. Sure, tuition would rise and textbook prices would
remain high, but I have a scholarship to handle that.
What I didn't expect was the sudden need to move back
in with my parents to save on rent money. I didn't expect
my spring break plans to change from a tropical cruise
or beach vacation to possibly staying in a hostel in
Boise. I especially didn't expect that my sushi intake
would be cut so drastically.
If you too are jobless and basically cashless, know
that you are not alone. Maybe we could start a support
group, help each other through this difficult time.
But if we do, we'll have to meet at my parents' house.
I can only afford to drive my car to campus and back
once a day.
MS
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